Maharashtra Roots, Swedish Parliament: Nila Vikhe Patil’s Political Journey Takes A New Turn
New Delhi: Nila Vikhe Patil, a 41 year old politician with roots in Maharashtra, has been elected to Sweden’s Parliament, marking a new chapter in a political career that has taken her from the Stockholm City Council to the Swedish Prime Minister’s Office and now the national legislature.
Vikhe Patil won a seat from the Stockholm City constituency in Sweden’s parliamentary election held on September 13, 2026. She will serve in the 349 member Riksdag as a representative of the Green Party (Miljopartiet). Sweden’s Election Authority formally confirmed the final parliamentary results on September 19.
Her election has attracted attention in Maharashtra because of her prominent family background. She is the daughter of educationist Ashok Vikhe Patil, granddaughter of former Union minister Balasaheb Vikhe Patil, and niece of Maharashtra minister Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil. Her great grandfather, Vithalrao Vikhe Patil, is associated with the establishment of one of India’s early cooperative sugar factories.
Born in Sweden, Nila spent part of her childhood in Ahmednagar, Maharashtra, and has maintained a connection with India. Her family’s public service legacy and her own political career have given her story a distinctly cross-border dimension.
Vikhe Patil’s involvement in Swedish politics began long before her election to Parliament. She has been associated with the Green Party for around 25 years and has held positions within the party and its youth organisations. She also served as a political adviser in former Prime Minister Stefan Lofven’s office, where her work included issues related to finance, taxation and housing.
She later served on the Stockholm City Council, gaining experience in local government before making the move to national politics.
Her professional career extends beyond politics. Vikhe Patil has worked with PwC since 2020 and became an authorised public accountant in 2025. She holds a bachelor’s degree and an MBA from the Gothenburg School of Business, where she studied economics and law, and also studied at Madrid’s Complutense University.
Among the issues she has highlighted are children’s welfare and environmental protection. She has spoken about creating better opportunities for children while protecting the environment, clean water and healthy natural surroundings.
The 2026 Swedish parliamentary election recorded a turnout of 84.9 per cent, with more than 6.8 million people casting their votes. The Green Party secured 22 seats in the 349 member Riksdag.
For Maharashtra, Vikhe Patil’s election represents an unusual link between the state’s political and educational legacy and Sweden’s national political system. For Vikhe Patil herself, the parliamentary victory marks the latest step in a Swedish political career that began decades before she entered the Riksdag.
ALSO READ: Three Students Killed as Speeding BMW Plunges Off Mumbai Coastal Road